Media Release

Muskoka Heritage Place Strategic Plan Feedback: What We Heard

The community is invited to review and comment on the draft results of Muskoka Heritage Place’s strategic planning process and next steps at myhuntsville.ca. The deadline to comment is April 17, 2026. 

Earlier this year, Muskoka Heritage Place set out to develop a Strategic Plan to help guide its operations over the next 5 years. The process involved research into industry trends, best practices, demographic shifts, infrastructure requirements and relevant strategic plans and initiatives, and sought public and stakeholder input through facilitated discussions and surveys. Members, staff, visitors, residents and supporters were invited to share their experiences and ideas to help guide future improvements and investments into the historical landmark.  

Key themes emerging from the process include, in no particular order:  

  • Diversifyandexpandprogrammingto diversify audiences, staff and volunteers   

  • Focus on developingevening,adult,off-season(Oct-May) andlocal programming  

  • Leveragethe museum’snaturalandbuiltassets(i.e. local stories, the Portage Flyer train, Cann Lake) and walkability to downtown amenities   

  • Refreshthe visitor experience, rotating exhibits and village experiences more often to engage new and repeat visitors  

  • Strengthen awareness and access throughinfrastructure investments,alternativeprogramming, andbetter communication 

  • Build greater capacity amongst staff and volunteers with newtoolsandhuman resources  

These are captured in the draft priorities, goals and objectives presented on myhuntsville.ca.  Staff are also proposing updates to MHP’s vision, mission, and values to align with our governing body, the Town of Huntsville, and the community we serve, ensuring we remain relevant, responsive and reflective of their evolving needs, interests and priorities.  

It is the Town’s mission to deliver quality services through responsible decision making. Public engagement and consultation are an essential step in this process, and we appreciate the public’s feedback in this process. To comment on these results, and provide additional feedback on next steps, visit www.myhuntsville.ca 

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Media Contact:
Communications@huntsville.ca